An 11-year-old boy and his 37-year-old stepfather are preparing to represent Great Britain at next month’s karate world championships in Italy, crediting the martial art with strengthening their relationship. Oliver and Ben, who live in Essex, began training together five years ago at Arena Karate in Suffolk and have since progressed through the ranks together. Their shared commitment to the sport has transformed their bond, with Ben noting that karate gave them a meaningful activity to pursue as a pair.
Oliver struggled with confidence and anxiety as a younger child, but the structured environment of the dojo provided stability and helped him develop socially. He now assists instructors during weeknight training sessions, working with younger students. Both father and stepson emphasize how significantly the discipline has impacted their relationship, with Oliver describing their connection as stronger than ever and Ben highlighting how learning katas and competing together has deepened their partnership in ways other activities could not.
Arena Karate has seven athletes selected to compete internationally, ranging in age from 11 to 37. The group will first compete at the European Open in Barnsley before heading to the World Championships in Tuscany, which will feature 2,500 competitors from 75 nations. However, the athletes and their families are facing a substantial financial challenge, needing to raise more than £10,000 to cover travel and competition costs, as karate does not receive government funding through UK Sport.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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